Stereotypes of Women in Ads: Real Women Talk about More than Nails and Shoes

I was taking a trip recently to a city where I’d heard an old friend (Maureen Popkin Chiquet) from middle school had settled, so I looked her up.  Turns out she’s the Global CEO for Chanel and was Glamour magazine’s Fashion Woman of the year in 2008. Oohh…so women DO actually work and hold down careers!  I’d…

Selling Cigarettes to Women: “You’ve Come a Long Way Baby.” NOT

I definitely smoked Virginia Slims when I smoked 30 years ago. But who wouldn’t want to be that tall, thin, confident, brave, free-spirited, adventurous woman who didn’t take sh— from anybody.  Sign me up! Without even inviting me to a focus group tobacco companies have taken note, creating advertising targeted at women in third world…

Can you be a Chicken and still be a good intercultural communicator?

Can you be a chicken and still be a good intercultural communicator?* The short answer is “no.” I was having an amazing conversation today (or as I said, let’s talk about something really interesting, let’s talk about me!”) with Marti Barletta of Trendsight today. Marti is the premier provider of ‘marketing to women’ insights and ideas,…

Hugs and Handshakes and US Business Culture Norms

It’s funny that after presenting a workshop on communication styles, I’m obsessing about my communication style.  I think it’s because I’m more aware now that I’m an “emotive-intuitive” communicator (I speak passionately about things I believe in and like to throw out big ideas as they come to me) and the “norm” for the business…

Not So Unconscious Bias: Woman Hero=Good Ad?

My problem with representations of women in advertising is not that they’re beautiful, nor, given my delight with this ad, that they’re scantily clad.  Apparently it’s more of a “boys against girls” mentality. I like this ad because, basically, the girl “wins.” She’s smarter, stronger, slyer, and ‘wins,’ while teaching the boys a thing or…

Hey Ladies, How About Some Shoes and Shopping to Go With Your Yogurt

I’m always quick to jump on images OF women in media, but here is a great series on breaking down ads targeted to women.  In this critique of yogurt ads, feminist and comedian Sarah Haskins highlights every stereotype of women’s desires/habits possible, from dieting to shopping to shoes.  If you already knew Sarah Haskins…why didn’t you…